The MET’s war crimes team

Murad Qureshi: How many people work in the Metropolitan Police's war crimes team and what is the team's annual budget?

The Mayor: Please see answer provided to Mayor's Question 2020/3328.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

Alison Moore: How are you and Transport for London (TfL) assessing the effectiveness of publicity and consultation arrangements for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and other schemes implemented under your Streetspace programme?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is listening carefully to the views of local people and other stakeholders about the temporary emergency measures introduced on the red route network. This includes considering views about TfL’s approach to engagement with local people, businesses and other stakeholders on each Streetspace scheme.
London’s local authorities are responsible for the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes, and so would make their own judgements as to the effectiveness of the publicity and consultation arrangements they have put in place.

Keeping London Moving (2)

Tony Devenish: In the absence of proper consultations on changes to London’s road space, will you commit to working with brilliant organisations like the Marylebone Association and the Kensington Square Residents Association to harness their expertise and local knowledge in keeping London moving?

The Mayor: Transport for London is engaging with a wide range of local businesses, community groups and older and disabled people’s organisations, about the emergency measures introduced on London’s roads to help social distancing and support a sustainable recovery. It is listening carefully to local views to help inform any necessary changes to Streetspace schemes on the red route network – and very much welcomes feedback from resident’s groups. It would be for the relevant local authorities to make similar commitments for schemes they introduce on roads they manage.

Keeping London Moving (1)

Tony Devenish: What practical measures can you take to reduce rat running, congestion and keep London moving?

The Mayor: My Streetspace for London Plan is delivering a range of practical solutions to tackle the issues in your question. My plan is designed to head off a car-based recovery by making London’s streets safer places to walk and cycle, and by ensuring that bus services can run reliably so that people have a choice not to use their car, especially for shorter journeys. The practical measures being delivered across London by Transport for London and the London boroughs include temporary cycle lanes, wider footways and filtering on some streets to reduce through traffic to prevent rat-running.
We learned during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic that streets with less motor traffic allowed people of all ages and abilities to experience the benefits of walking and cycling in their neighbourhoods. My Streetspace for London programme enables healthier active travel choices which will reduce congestion whilst delivering safer streets.
To date, over 80km of new bike lanes have been built or are under construction, and cycling rates have increased hugely as a result. Every additional journey made by a bike, instead of a car, reduces rat running, congestion and keeps London moving. 85 low-traffic neighbourhoods have been introduced across London to reduce rat running. The changes to the Congestion Charge are also preventing increased congestion in central London.
Londoners need to play their part by walking, cycling and scooting more to ensure we don’t see an increase in congestion that will hinder the emergency services, slow down our bus services or delay essential freight deliveries.

London Growth Hub Funding

Susan Hall: How much funding have you invested into the London growth hub and measurable objectives has it achieved?

The Mayor: I have invested £3,092,912 budget into the London Growth Hub through government grants, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and my Strategic Investment Fund SIF), since May 2016. Of these funds some were ringfenced for specific Growth Hub activity, such as Brexit business support, whereas others cover the day to day administrative costs of running the service.
Over the lifetime of the London Growth Hub it has supported 9,442 businesses, of which over 3,000 received 3 hours + support.

Redundancy Criteria

Leonie Cooper: Should persons who have been shielding and persons who have been furloughed be added to the government’s list of unfair redundancy criteria?

The Mayor: No one should penalised for following Government advice on shielding, nor should they be penalised because they’ve been furloughed. People have a right to fair redundancy processes and people who have been out of the workplace shouldn’t be disadvantaged.
Of course, most employers want to do the right thing even in these difficult times. But a recent Citizens Advice report ‘An unequal crisis’ highlighted how disabled people, those who are clinically vulnerable to coronavirus and carers are disproportionately facing redundancy. They highlight three areas of concern; fair redundancy processes, automatically unfair reasons for redundancy and discrimination. These factors are not new but there are concerns that Coronavirus, changes to our workplaces and time out the office that it has brought may create the conditions where it is more likely to occur. The criteria for selecting who should be made redundant should be fair.
It is likely that some people who have been shielding may already be protected by law against unfair treatment and dismissal because of pregnancy, age or a health condition that is considered a disability under the Equality Act. This would not cover all furloughed workers. We need urgent action now, so in the absence of legislative change the government should introduce new clear guidance for firms on post- furlough redundancies.
In addition, if employers fail to follow these rules it is important that the enforcement system is up to the task. The government should introduce its forthcoming single enforcement body as quickly as possible in response to the jobs crisis we now face, and my officers will work with the relevant departments and agencies to ensure it works for London.